climate change key questions Flashcards

1
Q

Why is our weather becoming stuck?

A

The jet stream is becoming stuck resulting in prolonged periods of rainfall, heatwaves and drought.

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2
Q

What is the jet stream?

A

The jet stream is a core of strong winds around 5 to 7
miles above the Earth’s surface, blowing from west to east.

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3
Q

How can seasonal changes evidence climate change?

A

Birds are nesting 9 days earlier due to warmer temperatures.

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4
Q

How can shrinking glaciers and melting ice evidence climate change?

A

Warm temperatures are needed to melt glaciers and
ice.

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4
Q

How can rising sea levels evidence climate change?

A

Thermal expansion - warm water expands.

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5
Q

Name an island that is under threat from rising sea levels.

A

The Maldives.

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5
Q

Why are ice cores used to measure temperatures in the distant past instead of thermometers?

A

Thermometers were not invented in the past to measure temperature.

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5
Q

Apart from using water
molecules in ice cores, how else can we measure temperatures from the distant past?

A

Studying oxygen in ocean sediments.

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6
Q

What is the name given to the theory that describes the affect on the Earth’s orbit?

A

The Milankovitch Cycle.

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7
Q

What is axial tilt?

A

When the earth’s axis can tilt from 21.5 to 24.5 degrees.

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8
Q

What is eccentricity?

A

The change of the Earth’s
orbit from circular to elliptical.

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9
Q

What is precision?

A

The Earth’s wobble.

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10
Q

How can sunspot activity affect
climate?

A

The more sunspots there are,
the more heat is released.

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11
Q

How long is the sunspot cycle for?

A

11 Years.

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12
Q

How does volcanic activity affect climate change?

A

Volcanic ash can block out the Sun, reducing temperatures
on the Earth. This tends to be a short-term impact.

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13
Q

Describe the greenhouse effect.

A

When the atmosphere allows most of the heat from the sun to pass straight through it to warm up the Earth’s surface.
The Earth’s surface will then give off long-radiation which gets trapped by greenhouse gases and warms up the plant.

14
Q

When do we get short-wave radiation in the greenhouse effect?

A

The radiation being emitted by the sun.

15
Q

When do we get long-wave radiation in the greenhouse effect?

A

When the Earth gives off heat.

16
Q

What percentage of the enhanced greenhouse effect is carbon dioxide responsible for?

A

60%

17
Q

What percentage of the enhanced greenhouse effect is methane responsible for?

A

20%

18
Q

What percentage of the enhanced greenhouse effect is nitrous oxide responsible for?

A

Very small concentrations.

19
Q

How does rice farming affect the climate?

A

Releases methane which is a greenhouse gas.

20
Q

How does burning fossil fuels affect the climate?

A

Released carbon dioxide which is a greenhouse gas.

21
Q

Name three examples of alternative energy sources.

A

Wind, hydro-electric and nuclear.

22
Q

Name three examples of fossil fuels.

A

Oil, gas and coal.

23
Q

What is carbon capture?

A

Technology that captures carbon dioxide, compresses and transports by pipeline to an injection well. Then injected as a liquid into the ground to be stored in reservoirs.

24
Q

Name the three international climate agreements.

A

Kyoto Protocol, The Paris Agreement and The Copenhagen Accord.

25
Q

Which agreement aimed to
reduce emissions with financial support for developing nations?

A

The Copenhagen Accord.

26
Q

What was the first treaty that became law?

A

The Kyoto Protocol.

27
Q

Which agreement aims to achieve a balance between
sources and sinks of greenhouse gases in the second half of this century?

A

The Paris Agreement.

28
Q

How does climate change affect people’s health?

A

Warmer temperatures and shifting weather patterns can worsen air quality, which can lead to asthma attacks and other respiratory health effects.

29
Q

what is causing enhanced greenhouse effect

A

the burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil, and natural gas), agriculture, and land clearing

30
Q
A
31
Q

What are the natural causes of climate change

A

volcanic eruptions, changes in orbit of the earth

32
Q

bangladsesh risk and effects pf climate change

A

rising sea leavels, flooding extreme temperatures, health impacts and lose of bio diversity. The effects are wide ranging inter connected posing challenges to sustainable development livelihoods and public health

33
Q

australia risk and efdects of climate change

A

extreme weather events, bushfires, droughts, heatwaves rising sea levels, impacts on agriculture abd biodiversity laws. Effects: increased bushfire risk, drought heatwaves coastal erosion